EDWARDSVILLE — An Alton man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years in prison Tuesday on an attempted murder charge for the November 2014 stabbing of a woman near then-WellSpring Resources mental health facility, 2615 Edwards St.

Anthony D. Davis, then 36, who gave a Spaulding Street address, was in custody of the Illinois Department of Health and Human Services for a determination of his mental health, but prosecutors convinced a judge that he is not mentally ill, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Crystal Uhe.

Attempted first-degree murder is a Class X felony, punishable by a term of between six and 30 years. Davis will have to serve at least 85 percent of the 18 years.

The attack was at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 19, 2014, on the parking lot of the center, now Centerstone. At the time, Alton Police Chief Jason “Jake” Simmons said the stabbing appeared to be a random act of violence.

After a foot pursuit, police arrested Davis, who was still wearing a Department of Corrections ankle bracelet.

Simmons said Davis walked up to the car, contacted the woman and said he wanted to talk to her. “He pulled out a knife and stabbed her hand, chest and head. Witnesses yelled at him and he took off running,” Simmons said in 2014.

The wounded woman walked into WellSpring and asked for help, Simmons said.

Simmons said two police officers had been nearby when the 911 call came in, were at the parking lot within a couple minutes and pursued the suspect. Police took the man into custody a few blocks away at Spaulding Street and Fernwood Avenue.

At the time of the stabbing, Davis was on parole from Dixon Correctional Center, where he served a prison term of five years for aggravated vehicular hijacking of a handicapped person.

He has a criminal history dating to 1998, when he was convicted of aggravated battery with a firearm. He was also convicted in 2003 of armed robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.